GPS and Time-Depth Recorder tracking data of chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) breeding at the South Orkney Islands, from 2011 to 2016

• Main Authors: Trathan, Philip, Lowther, Andrew, Manco, Fabrizio
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre 2021
• Subjects: "EARTH SCIENCE","BIOSPHERE","ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS","SPECIES/POPULATION INTERACTIONS","USE/FEEDING HABITATS"; "EARTH SCIENCE","BIOSPHERE","ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS","ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS","FOOD-WEB DYNAMICS"; "EARTH SCIENCE","BIOSPHERE","ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS","SPECIES/POPULATION INTERACTIONS","POPULATION DYNAMICS"; GPS; Pygoscelis antarcticus; TDR; breeding success; central place foraging; chinstrap penguin; foraging theory; species tracking; South Orkney Islands; Signy Island; Laurie; Monroe; Geddes; Monroe Island; Antarc*; antarcticus; Chinstrap penguin; Laurie Island; Powell Island
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5285/0675a6fd-0c0e-43a0-a003-48e7954ca95b; https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/01514

This dataset captures information from GPS and Time-Depth Recorder (TDR) tracking of 221 chinstrap penguins from 4 sites at the South Orkney Islands (Cape Geddes at Laurie Island, Powell Island, Monroe Island and Signy Island). Monitoring was carried out during incubation and brood between the months of December and February from 2011 to 2016. GPS data are available at 4 minute intervals whilst birds are at the sea surface and dive data every second. Tags measured birds' foraging patterns to study the relationship between breeding stage and foraging distribution. This research was supported by the Darwin Plus, WWF and the UKRI/BAS Ecosystems Programme under ALI-Science. : Global positioning system (GPS) devices and temperature-depth recorders (TDR) were fitted to 221 chinstrap penguins, captured at their nest during incubation and brood from 4 sites at the South Orkney Islands. These sites are as follows: Laurie Island from December 2011 to January 2012, Powell Island from December 2013 to January 2014, Monroe Island from December 2015 to February 2016, and at Signy Island from January to February 2016. The devices were attached using tape and 2-part quick-setting glue, and handling time was no longer than 10 minutes for deployment and 5 minutes for retrieval. The TDRs were programmed to record depth every second and the GPS loggers were set to record location every 4 minutes, although subject to satellite connection. Devices were retrieved on average after 4 to 5 days. All data points on land should be excluded. : Any GPS points on land, or where travelling speeds are above 10m s-1 , should be excluded. To adjust for the drift in TDR pressure readings associated with temperature changes, the depth data should be zero-offset corrected.